Reeds for saxophones, clarinets and other woodwinds

ABSTRACT

A reed is provided which is particularly suited for employment in saxophones, clarinets and other woodwinds. The reed comprises a thin elastic tongue of suitable material which is fastened at one end to the mouthpiece of a musical instrument and is set in vibration by the breath of the musician. The reed is operable as a semi-restrained excitation mechanism for the generating and sustaining of standing longitudinal sound waves in the tuned pipes of woodwinds. The cross section and sagittal section of the reed coact in the distribution of mass so as to maximize the incremental stiffness to inertial mass ratio, thus affording ease of control by the musician. In addition, the distribution of mass is such as to provide the designed selective elaboration of preferred overtones which give quality to the voice of the instrument. The reed consists of a generally elongated member which is provided at one end with a heel or boot which is the portion thereof that is designed to be fastened to the mouthpiece of the instrument, and at the other end thereof with a rounded tip. Extending from the rounded tip of the reed along a portion of the length thereof the side edges of the reed are in the form of rails. Intermediate the length thereof the reed is provided with a transversely extending shoulder. The stock of the reed extends from the aforementioned shoulder rearwardly to the heel of the reed while the vamp of the reed comprises that portion of the latter which extends forward of the shoulder to the rounded tip of the reed. The vamp is arched sagittally and in cross section resembles a bow. By virtue of the arch with which the vamp is provided the embouchure force is distributed laterally to the edge of the vamp as well as axially thereof. The result is that this serves to constrain and position the spring biased tip of the reed.

United States Patent [1 1 Gamble [4 1 Sept. 16, 1975 REEDS FORSAXOPHONES, CLARINETS AND OTHER WOODWINDS [76] Inventor: John G. Gamble,75 Library Ln.,

' Simsbury, Conn. 06070 [22] Filed: May 14, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 469,831

Primary ExaminerLawrence R. Franklin [57] ABSTRACT A reed is providedwhich is particularly suited for employment in Saxophones, clarinets andother woodwinds. The reed comprises a thin elastic tongue of suitablematerial which is fastened at one end to the mouthpiece of a musicalinstrument and is set in vibration by the breath of the musician. Thereed is operable as a semi-restrained excitation mechanism for thegenerating and sustaining of standing longitudinal sound waves in thetuned pipes of Woodwinds. The cross section and sagittal section of thereed coact in the distribution of mass so as to maximize the incrementalstiffness to inertial mass ratio, thus affording ease of control by themusician. In addition, the distribution of mass is such as to providethe designed selective elaboration of preferred overtones which givequality to the voice of the instrument. The reed consists of a generallyelongated member which is provided at one end with a heel or boot whichis the portion thereof that is designed to be fastened to the mouthpieceof the instrument, and at the other end thereof with a rounded tip.Extending from the rounded tip of the reed along a portion of the lengththereof the side edges of the reed are in the form of rails.Intermediate the length thereof the reed is provided with a transverselyextending shoulder The stock of the reed extends from the aforementionedshoulder rearwardly to the heel of the reed while the vamp of the reedcomprises that portion of the latter which extends forward of theshoulder to the rounded tip of the reed. The vamp is arched sagittallyand in cross section resembles a bow. By virtue of the arch with whichthe vamp is provided the embouchure force is distributed laterally tothe edge of the vamp as well as axially thereof. The result is that thisserves to constrain and position the spring biased tip of the reed.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEB SW5 3, 905,268

SHEET 2 UP 2 FIG.1O

REEDS FOR SAXOPHONES, CLARINETS AND OTHER WOODWINDS BACKGROUND THEINVENTION through which the aforereferenced three qualities are capableof being achieved which would also be applicable to all reeds for allreed-blown instruments. In summary, there has existed a need to providea reed construction which represents a novel departure from clas- 1sical reed contour and which, when taken in conjuncquite superior tothose of reeds made from synthetic plastic or other composite materialsas fabricated here to date. The nature of the cane reeds however is suchthat selection and alteration of the reeds is a necessary craft whichgoes hand in hand with the practice of the music art. Moreover, aproperly selected and fashioned reed may serve well for a matter ofhours, then soften or fracture or otherwise fail to function properly.

The many efforts to extend the useful life of a sound generating reedhave led to the fabrication .of reeds from synthetic materials orcomposite materials. More specifically, in some cases these reeds havebeen comprised of plastic alone. In other instances, the reeds have beenformed of a material wherein plastic fibers are dispersed in a plasticmatrix, or some other form of composite is utilized. Regardless of theparticular method of fabrication which has been utilized, the objectnevertheless in each case has been to attempt to attain the quality ofsound produced through the use of a suitable natural fiber andconfiguration while concomitantly extending the useful life of adependable reed. Some measure of success has been achieved through theseefforts in extending the life of a reed by presenting an imperviousbarrier to the degrading effects of moisture and saliva to which thereed is subjected during use in its natural environment.

The quality of sound, as well as the range of fluctuation attainablehowever from such synthetic or composite reeds cannot favorably becompared with the natural fiber reeds. More specifically, the upperrange of overblown octaves is unattainable and some very high frequencypartials arepresent in significant amplitudes to detract from themusical quality sought by the exacting artist. The physical reasons forthesedeficiencies involve in part the stiffness to mass ratio thereof,

namely the increment of the latter which exists at equivalent distancesalong the vamp of the reed when compared to the natural reed. Thisresults in reducing the response of the reed which drives the vibratingresonant column at any frequency, which in turn reduces the energy ofthe desired partials and limits the range of the upper fundamentals asoverblown. .To date then, synthetic reeds have attained durability atthe expense of range and the quality of sound ex pected as pleasing tothe ear. There has thus existed a need to providea reed which is capableof achieving all three qualities in a simple and most inexpensivefashion. Moreover, it has been desired to provide a reed constructionwhich when applied to a natural fiber reed would be effective to alsoimprove its range and quality of sound during its rather brief life.More specifically, it has been desired to devise a construction for areed tion with a preferred selection of elastic materials, coacts toeffect an increase in the incremental stiffness/- mass ratio, by ineffect removing reed mass which would not be subject to working stressmaximally during its flexure in cycling as a sound generatorresonator,

.Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide asynthetic reed for saxophones, clarinets and other woodwind instrumentswhich is capable of duplicating the sound characteristics of a naturalfiber reed while extending the useful life thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such asynthetic reed for saxophones, clarinets and other woodwind instrumentswhich can be manufactured in a simple manner in large quantities with ahigh degree of dimensional reproducibility at low cost.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a syntheticreed for saxophones, clarinets and other woodwind instruments whichduring the finishing step of fabrication affords the musician thelatitude of enhancing any particular desired range and depth of tonalitywithin the physical limits of elastic modulus, material density anddistribution of tension and compression elements.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such asynthetic reed for saxophones, clarinets and other woodwind instrumentswhich will not readily oscillate in a squeal mode.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide such asynthetic reed for saxophones, clarinets and other woodwind instrumentswhich is contoured to coact with the mouthpiece of the musicalinstrument as a most efficient air foil so as to maximize the forceacting upon the reed to displace it by maximizing the velocity pressuredrop for a given pressure differential across the lip of the mouthpieceand tip face of the reed.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such asynthetic reed for saxophones, clarinets and other woodwind instrumentswhich embodies an increased capacity for the storage of potentialenergy, in the manner of a full working recurved archers bow for a givendisplacement which results in greater projection without loss of musicalquality.

Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide such asynthetic reed for saxophones, clarinets and other woodwind instrumentswhich embodies a construction, the principles of which may be applied toa natural reed to improve the latters range and quality of sound duringits rather brief life, and which in addition may also be applied to allreeds for all reed-blown musical instruments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that the foregoing andrelated objectives can be readily attained in a synthetic reedparticularly suited for employment in saxophones, clarinets and otherwoodwind instruments. The reed is designed for its dynamic propertiessince the reed is effectively the pressure to sound transducer whichgenerates music by adding in-phase energy to a standing sonic wave in atuned pipe and further sustains the preferred overtones which contributeto the characteristic quality of the voice of a fine musical instrument.A properly designed reed capable of responding to the required drivingfrequencies, i.e., fundamentals and partials, must not only have thefrequency response, but also must provide as well a complete,non-leaking seal as a striking reed in cooperation with the rail, tiprail and table of the mouthpiece. Further, it will be found that thefrequency of the tuned section of the pipe asplayed corresponds to thelength of the reed which will response in-phase. This requires that thestress gradient vary uniformly, i.e., not necessarily linearly butwithout sharp transition, blending from the tip of the stock, i.e.,root. A perfect reed would exhibit no dead bands, i.e., notes thatrequired higher mouth air pressure to attain an equal or balanced soundenergy level or level of projection. The reed of the present inventionis characterized by a construction in which there is provided astreamlined relieving of the underside of the vamp area of the reed.Moreover, where stiffness is found to be inadequate, ribbing may be leftintact in the otherwise relieved area, or if necessary ribbing may evenbe added thereto. The net effect of the aforedescribed construction isto move the center of gravity of the reed toward the vamp surface,namely, in essence there is a skewing of the mean fiber toward the vampsurface which for a given inertial mass at a radius from the shoulderprovided in the under-surface of the reed, supports a higher beamloading in the transverse axis of the reed. If the stiffness at thepoint of embouchure to reed pressure which governs the space between thereed tip and the mouthpiece tip is inadequate, the normal playingpressure of the musicians embouchure will merely close the reed to themouthpiece of the instrument and the reed will fail to vibrate. Toincrease this stiffness, the thickness of the reed must be increased atthis point, but with a corresponding gutting in the air foil beneath thevamp while maintaining a thin tip section and a complete sea] at closureof the mouthpiece. In accord with the preferred embodiment of theinvention, a reed is constructed wherein in developing the contourthereof stiffness of the reed is a requirement with a uniform stressgradient also being a concomitant requisite. In its completed form, thereed with or without a stiffening rib or ribs, presents a crosssectional arch or body which coacts with a saggital sectional body toproject a stiff member of low inertial mass out from the stock, and moreparticularly out from the shoulder formed in the reed, to a tip whichrepresents an increased beam loading in the transverse axis of the reed.The resulting structure is the flat spring equivalent of an I beam..lnaddition, such a structure has an increase response frequency, which inplastic approaches that of a cane fiber reed with an extended life.Moreover, a natural fiber reed which has been constructed in theaforedescribed manner and plastic-sealed against moisture will alsoexhibit improved properties. Still further, such materials asmicro-deposited boron filaments may be distributed in a suitable plasticmatrix to further improve the stiffness to mass ratio of the reed.Finally, reeds which are so contoured are capable of being molded withgreat precision. Therefore, it is possible to achieve greatrepeatability in quantity at low cost. This in turn functions toseparate the craft of reed fabrication from the artist.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of aportion of the mouthpiece of a musical instrument illustrated with areed constructed in accordance with the present invention fastenedthereto;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the mouthpiece of amusical instrument having a reed constructed in accordance with thepresent invention fastened thereto, illustrated positioned in the mouthof a musician;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a reed constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the reed of FIG. 3 constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view partially in section of the reed ofFIG. 3 illustrating the internal structure thereof constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of a reed constructedin accordance with the present invention taken substantially along theline 66 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a portion of another embodiment of reedconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of reedconstructed in accordance with the present invention taken substantiallyalong the line 8'8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of a double reed constructed inaccordance with the present invention taken substantially along the line99 in FIG. 10; and FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a portion of a doublereed constructed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to thedrawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there isillustrated therein the embouchure, i.e., mouthpiece, generallydesignated by reference numeral 10, of a musical instrument. Theembouchure 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings is of asingle reed type such as used in a saxophone or clarinet and is depictedwith a reed 12 fastened thereto. Although for purposes of setting fortha description of the invention, an embouchure 10 having one particularform of construction has been depicted in the drawings, it is to beunderstood that the reed l2 constructed in accordance with the presentinvention is not limited in its applicability solely to the embouchure10. Rather, the principles of construction which are utilized in thereed 12 are also capable of being applied to reeds which are employablewith embouchures differing in dimensions and/or configuration from thatof the embouchure 10. Inasmuch as the nature of the construction of theembouchure 10 is only indirectly related to the subject matter of thepresent invention, it has not been deemed necessary in order to obtainan understanding of the present invention to describe in detailhereinafter the nature of the entire structure which is embodied in theembouchure 10. Instead, it has been deemed sufficient to merely describebriefly the mode of operation of the embouchure 10 and the manner inwhich the reed 12 is intended to coact therewith in order to produce thedesired result from the musical instrument of which the embouchureconstitutes the mouthpiece. As is well known to those skilled in thefield of music, the function of the reed 12 is to modulate the stream ofair which enters the embouchure 10, i.e., the mouthpiece of the musicalinstrument, in such a way as to excite and maintain the vibrations inthe tube (not shown) with which the embouchure 10 is cooperativelyassociated. A single reed 12 is employed with clarinets and saxophones.These instruments utilize a rigid embouchure of the type which has beenillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. One side 14 of theembouchure 10 is nearly flat and is commonly known as the lay. The otherside 16 of the embouchure 10 is tapered so that the two sides meet at anangle of 30 degrees. In the flattened side 14 of the embouchure 10 thereis provided an oblong opening 18 communicating with the bore 20. Thereed 12 comprises a thin elastic tongue of suitable material which isthinned at one end 22. The reed 12 is fastened with its thickest end 24positioned at the right-hand end of the embouchure 10 as viewed withreference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings by means of the screwligature 26. The latter consists of the band 28 and a threaded screw 30.More specifically, the reed 12 is fastened to the embouchure 10 so as tocover the opening 18 and reach to the left end of the embouchure 10 asviewed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The reed 12 atthe latter end of the embouchure 10 is thin and flexible and is spacedat a small distance from the embouchure 10 as best understood withreference to FIG. 2 of the drawings. The distance by which the reed isspaced from the embouchure 10 gradually decreases to zero in movingalong the length of the reed 12 to the right as viewed with reference toFIG. 2 of the drawings.

As a result of the aforedescribed construction, a passage is createdfrom the musicians mouth, the latter being schematically depicted at 32in FIG. 2 of the drawings, to the instrument, and more particularly theembouchure 10 thereof. As best understood with reference to FIG. 1 ofthe drawings, the aforementioned passage consists of a nearlyrectangular portion 34 located between the left hand side of theembouchure 10 and the tip 22 of the reed 12 which is flanked by a pairof wedge-shaped passages 36, only one of which is visible in FIG. 1 ofthe drawings. When in action, reed 12 moves to and from the embouchure10, decreasing and increasing the height of the passages 34 and 36, thusvarying the stream of air there through.

There are some instruments (not shown), such as the oboe and bassoon,which are sounded by means of a double reed. The principles ofconstruction which are utilized in the reed 12 are also capable of beingembodied in a double reed. One embodiment of a double reed constructedin accordance with the present invention, generally designated byreference numeral 76 has been depicted in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawingsand reference will be had thereto more particularly hereinafter.

In conjunction with reference to FIGS. 3-6 of the drawings, there willnow be set forth a description of the manner in which the contour of thereed 12 is determined. The configuration of the reed 12 can be describedmathematically in a sense. More specifically, to a first approximation areed which properly unwraps or rolls around the face 14 of theembouchure 10 may be defined as a function of acoustic pressure in thefollowing manner. The bending moment of the reed 12 is defined by thefollowing formula:

Where:

M is the bending moment of the reed at point X measured along the lengthof the reed; W is the width of the reed; P is the pressure being appliedto the outer surface of the reed; P is the pressure being applied to theinner surface of the reed; X is the length of the reed measured from thetip to a point along the length of the reed to which the bending momentis to be determined.

By employing the following formula the moment of inertia of the reed 12taken at a given cross section is capable of being calculated:

Where:

J, is the moment of inertia of the cross section of the C is thecurvature of the reed defined in radians per centimeter; M is thebending moment of the reed;

E is Youngs modulus; J is the moment of inertia of a cross section ofthe reed; P is the pressure being applied to the outer surface of thereed; P is the pressure being applied to the inner surface of the reed;X is the length of the reed measured from the tip to a point along thelength of the reed whereat the curvature is being calculated; Y is thevertical dimension of the reed. For a constant curvature of the reed 12the following formula is utilized:

(4) Where:

Y is the vertical dimension of the reed at a point along the length ofthe reed; K is a constant; X is the length of the reed measured from thetip to a point therealong whereat the vertical dimension is beingdetermined. The aforereferenced formulas provide a means of determiningthe correct profile of the reed 12 with the stiffness level thereofbeing determined by the values of E and J at the shoulder 44 of the reed12 as a result of which in terms of stiffness there may be providedreeds which are characterized as being hard, medium or soft. Syntheticreeds, even the stiffest known, embodying the conventional configurationhave a specific gravity higher than natural cane reeds. Therefore,assuming the existence of a superior synthetic material of equalflexural modulus to that of cane, synthetic reeds formed of plastic ofconventional contour will not be as responsive as the fibrocellularconstruction of natural cane. By increasing the stiffness and/orreducing mass by form factor it is possible to equate the behaviour of asynthetic reed with a natural cane reed since the natural frequency ofthe reed is directly proportional to its stiffness and inverselyproportional to its mass.

For four full octave range of a saxophone, for example, thestiffness/mass ratio of the reed is of particular importance since tipresponse initiates the overall phase response of the reed with respectto the acoustic pressure wave within the embouchure of the instrument.Musical quality is a function of this phase relationship in that theearlier in the rise of an acoustic pressure wave upon the inner aspectof the reed that the reed snaps open, the lower the value of thepressure acting on the inner surface of the reed relative to the airpressure in the mouth of the musician acting on the outer surface of thereed and, consequently, the higher the difference between the twopressures, the rate of mass flow and the amount of energy in the firstburst of injected air to support the overtones as well as the initialfundamental. Examination of the relative pressures acting on theopposing surfaces of the reed will reveal the phase relationships andsource of the strongest partials, which give character to the voice ofthe instrument. From a theoretical standpoint, the ideal reed possessesa stiffness whereby it is operable by the musicians embouchureapproximately /2 inch to 4 inch from the reed tip and is mass less.

The above is best understood by comparing the reed to a flapper valve,the latter being actuated by the interplay of forces to alternately openand close the orifice in the embouchure of the instrument which is of anarea having a given width. The lowest mass form to cover the area ofsuch an orifice is a member which has a relatively small verticaldimension and which is elongated in the transverse direction so as tohave a width corresponding to the width of the orifice. A member havingsuch a configuration has low stiffness in the vertical axis. On theother hand, a member which is elongated in the vertical dimension andwhich has a relatively narrow width-has very high stiffness in thevertical axis but the width thereof is insufficient to cover the widthof the area of the orifice in the embouchure.

Since the natural frequency of a vibrating reed is proportional to thestiffness thereof and inverse with respect to the mass thereof and thevalve-like action thereof must be quick to follow pressure changes, acompromise must be reached with regard to the configuration of the reedrequiring consideration primarily of the characteristics of the materialfrom which the reed is formed. It is possible, bearing theabove-described factors in mind, to arrive at an optimum geometry for areed for each different type of material. More specifically, as notedabove a member of small thickness and elongated width meets the minimumclosure specification for a reed while a member of narrow widthelongated in the vertical dimension meets the minimum stiffnessspecification for a reed. Therefore, if these two members are combinedin an effort to provide a compromise structure, there is provided acombined member having an inverted T-shaped configuration. Where thereis added to the above considerations the additional factor of minimizingthe mass/stiffness of the reed symmetrically about the center of gravitythereof with respect to the shoulder 44 of the reed, members havingseveral different configurations are developed. For example, the abovereferenced factors are met by a member having an inverted V-shapedconfiguration, or a member having the configuration of an archers bow,or a member having the external shape of an archer"s bow and in which aninternal rib or web is provided substantially at the mid point thereof.

Insofar as a reed for a musical instrument is concerned, the massthereof is of consequence with respect in time in the displacement ofany segment of the reed in response to the net force, which isequivalent to the pressure acting on the outer surface of the reed minusthe reed spring load at closure deflection, and the instantaneousacoustic force which is equal to the pressure in pounds per square inchtimes the area on which the pressure is acting, that are tending toaccelerate the reed in conversion of its loaded potential energy. Thereed is latched closed by the pressure differential of the fundamentalwith respect to mouth air pressure. This is commonly referred to asstick-slip and is analogous to the action of a conventional toggleswitch wherein the reed is suddenly released to snap open to expose aninrush of air which is injected energy in support of the resonant tunedfrequency and the generator of overtones or partials.

The stiffness of the reed, on the other hand, is of consequence inestablishing the flat spring rate, namely, the force per displacementthereof. This potential energy stored in the deflected reed determinesthe release pressure differential of the latched reed and thereby theacoustic phase angle at which the initiation of the injection ofaugmenting air under pressure occurs. The

acoustic wave which is produced pulses in the embouchure. Moreparticularly, the volume of the mouth functions as a resonant cavitywhich may or may not be in tune with overtones or high fundamentals tosupport the vibrations of the musical instrument out of phase andtherefore in phase to augment the second injection of air as theacoustic wave is reflected and the pressure acting on the inner surfaceof the reed drops below the pressure acting on the outer surface of thereed.

It has been found that a bow tension reed l2 embodying the configurationdepicted in FIGS. 3 6 of the drawings has a stiffness to mass ratio whenformed from a resin marketed by Celanese Corporation which consists ofglass coupled acetal copolymer G.C.-25 with a flexural modulus of l 1.0X 10 psi and a specific gravity of 1.61 gm/cm is superior to a reedformed from natural cane fiber as well as being immuned to variations inenvironmental conditions. The reed 12 when used in a musical instrumenthas proven capable of yielding a brilliant-warm musical quality which isindicative of a richness of proper partials.

Referring now again to FIGS. 3 6 of the drawings, a description of thenature of the construction of the reed 12 will now be set forth. Asdepicted therein, the reed 12 embodies a bow tensioned construction.More particularly, the reed 12 comprises a thin elastic tongue formedfrom a synthetic material. At one end the reed 12 is provided with arelatively thin tip 22, while the other end 38 thereof, which iscommonly referred to as the root, is relatively thick in cross section.The reed 12 in addition includes a number of other structural portionsto which reference is had hereinafter and with reference being madethereto by the name which is commonly associated therewith by thoseskilled in the field of music. Namely, the reed l2 embodies aconstruction wherein there is provided a pair of rails, a pair ofshoulders, a vamp, a table and a web. The rails of the reed 12 comprisethe side edges 40 and 42 of the reed 12. As best understood withreference to FIG. 3 of the drawings, the side edges 40 and 42 of thereed 12 are tapered inwardly starting at the tip 22 and extendingtowards the root 38 thereof.. Moreover, as depicted in FIG. 4 of thedrawings, the side rails 40 and 42 of the reed 12 are relatively thin incross section particularly theportion thereof which exists between thetip 22 and the shoulder 44.-The latter shoulder 44 is located betweenthe forward edge of the upper surface of the root 38 and the rear edgeof the vamp 46, and is operable to define a separation between the uppersurface of the root 38 and the upper surface of the vamp 46. AS shown inFIG. 3 of the drawings, the shoulder 44 extends transversely of themajor axis of the reed 12 so as to reach the rail 40 to the rail 42 andso as to lie in a sagittal plane of the reed 12. It should be noted asillustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings that not only is the upper surfaceof the vamp 46 arched between the rails 40 and 42 but also that the vamp46 is tapered in a downwardly direction extending from the shoulder 44to the tip 22.

Turning now to FIGS. and 6 of the drawings, reference will be hadthereto for purposes of setting forth a description of the under-surfaceof the reed 12. As best understood with reference to FIG. 5, a secondshoulder, i.e., shoulder 48, is provided on the under-surface of thereed 12 at a point substantially equally distant from the tip 22 and therear edge of the root 38. The portion 50 of the reed 12 extendingrearwardly of the shoulder 48, i.e., the portion of the reed 12 whichextends to the right of the shoulder 48 as viewed with reference to FIG.5 of the drawings, is known most commonly as the table of the reed 12.The table 50 is substantially flat and is designed as such to cooperatewith the flattened side 14 of the enbouchure when the reed 12 isfastened to the latter by means of the screw ligature 26. Forward of theshoulder 48 extending to the tip of the reed '12 is found theundersurface of the vamp 46 which iss'tructurally configured in a mannerwhich will now be described in more detail. As best understood withreference to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 of the drawings, the under-surface of thevamp 46 is relieved in a streamlined manner so as to remove masstherefrom without reducing the stiffness of the reed 12. Moreparticularly, the under-surface of the vamp 46 is relieved so as to formtwo cavities 52 and 54 therein.

The cavities 52 and 54 in turn are separated by a central web 56 whichextends from the shoulder 48 and blends in with the tip 22 whereat itterminates. Thus, as depicted in FIG. 6 of the drawings, a cross sectionof the reed taken in a sagittal plane in the area of the vamp 46resembles the configuration of an archers bow but with a central web 56being provided internally of the vamp 46.

It is therefore to be noted that the reed 12 constructed in accordancewith the present invention so as to embody the bow tensionedconfiguration which is illustrated in FIGS. 3 6 of the drawings includesvarious structural elements which may be identified as being essentialto the provision of the necessary function of the striking reed asemployed with suitable embouchure pressure by the musician in biasingthe tip 22 of the reed 12 to an optimal clearance with'the tip rail 57of the embouchure 10 for a given air pressure differential across theinner surface of the vamp 46 of the reed 12. The vamp 46 is archedsagitally and in cross section has a bow-like configuration. The archesof the bow which extend between the rails 40 and 42, the rail 40 and thecentral web 58, and the rail 42 and the central web 56 distribute theembouchure force acting on the vamp 46 laterally to the edges of thevamp 48 as well as axially to constrain and position the spring biasedtip 22 of ,the reed 12. The edges of the vamp 46 may be slightlythickened for sealing the opening 18 in the embouchure 10 at closure andfor providing mass at a position with respect to the center line of thedistribution of mass in the reed 12 in order to maximize the efficiencyof the use of mass alternately in tension and compression as the variouslengths of the responding reed flex in synchronization with the resonantcycling of the sound pressure wave in the tuned pipe of the musicalinstrument. One material, as noted above, which has been found suitablefor forming the reed 12 therefrom is a glass coupled acetal copolymerG.C.25 marketed by Celanese Corporation and which has a flexural modulusof 11.0 X 10 psi and a specific gravity of 1.61 gm/cm This materialprovides a highly favorable stiffness to mass ratio in a reinforcedthermal plastic which may be injection molded at low cost in the desiredconfiguration. The latter configuration in turn is operable to enhancethe incremental stiffness to mass ratio of the reed with respect to anyvibratory or loaded length of the reed. Moreover, it should be notedthat for any reed material chosen including the natural cane fiber,ivory, brass, or steel, the aforedescribed configuration embodied in thereed 12 will enhance the incremental stiffness to mass ratio as to reedsmade of such materials which embody the conventional flatbottomed reedconfiguration. Finally, where it is desired to form the reed from a verystiff material, the reed may be configured in the shape of a compoundarch (not shown). Namely, the reed may be configured so as to omit thecentral web 56 of the reed 12.

Turning now to a consideration of FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, thereis illustrated therein another embodiment of a reed, generallydesignated by reference numeral 58, constructed in accordance with thepresent invention. The reed 58 differs from the reed l2 primarily in theconfiguration of the under-surface of the vamp area 60 of the former.Otherwise, the reed 58 and the reed 12 embody essentially the sameconstruction. Consequently, those portions of the reed l2 and the reed58 which are common to both reeds have been identified in FIGS. 7 and 8by the same reference numeral which has been used therefor in FIGS. 3 6of the drawings. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings, thereed 58 also possesses a bow tension construction. More specifically,the reed 58 comprises a thin elastic tongue which is formed from asuitable synthetic material such as the same resin from which the reed12 is preferably formed and to which reference has been had previouslyhereinabove. At one end, the reed 58 is provided with a relatively thintip 22, while the other end 38, i.e., the root thereof, is relativelythick in cross section. Also, the side edges, i.e., the rails 40 and 42of the reed 58 each are relatively thin in cross section and taperinwardly beginning at the outer end of the tip 22 and extending towardthe root 38 of the reed 58. Along the length of the upper surface of thereed 58 intermediate the tip 22 and the root 38 thereof, there isprovided a shoulder 44 extending transversely of the major axis of thereed 58 in a sagittal plane thereof so as to reach from the rail 40 tothe rail 42. The shoulder 44 is operable to define a separation betweenthe forward, i.e., the left end as viewed with reference to FIG. 7 ofthe drawings of the upper surface of the root 38 and the rear end of thevamp 60. Although not visible in the drawings, it is to be alsounderstood that the reed 58 in a manner similar to that provided in thereed 12 includes a second shoulder, i.e., shoulder 48 formed on theundersurface of the reed 58 substantially equally distant from the tip22 and the rear edge of the root 38. As in the case of the reed 12 theportion of the undersurface of the reed 58 extending rearwardly of theshoulder (not shown) comprises the table thereof. The latter issubstantially flat so as to be capable of cooperating with the flattenedside 14 of the embouchure when the reed 58 is fastened thereto by meansof the screw ligature 26. Forward of the shoulder (not shown) formed onthe under-surface of the reed 58 extending to the tip 22 there is to befound the under-surface of the vamp 60. As will be understood withreference to FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings, the under-surface of thevamp 60 is relieved in a manner which differs from that of the vamp 46.The configuration of the vamp 60 is intended to be employed where thereed 58 is formed from a synthetic material which has a lower flexuralmodulus than the resin which is preferably utilized in forming the reed12. As such, the need 58 must have additional rigidity in order to becapable of storing the reed spring potential energy and to provideresistance to the closure of the tip 22 thereof. This additionalrigidity is provided in the reed 58 by including therein additionalwebs, i.e., ribbing, located on the undersurface of the vamp 60. Namely,the under-surface of the vamp 60 is relieved so as to form four cavities62, 64, 66 and 68 therein. The cavities 64 and 66 are separated by acentral web 70 which extends from the shoulder (not shown) formed on theunder-surface of the reed 58 and blends in with the tip 22 whereat itterminates. Separating the cavities 62 and 64, and the cavities 66 and68, there is provided a web 72 and 74, respectively. As bestunderstoodwith reference to FIG. 7 of the drawings, each of the webs 72 and 74 isa lesser length than the central web 70. More specifically, each of thewebs 72 and 74 has a length which is approximately two-thirds of thelength of the vamp 60. In cross section, the vamp 60 therefor asdepicted in FIG. 6 has a configuration which resembles that of anarchers bow but with a plurality of webs, i.e., the webs 70, 72 and 74being provided internally of the vamp 60. Consequently the vamp 60embodies a construction wherein a multiplicity of arches are provided,namely, an arch extending from one side edge of the vamp 60 to the otherside thereof, a second arch extending from the rail 40 to the web 72, athird arch extending from the web 72 to the central web 70, a fourtharch extending from the central web 70 to the Web 74, and finally afifth arch extending from the web 74 to the rail 42.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 8 of the drawings, a further advantageousfeature of the construction of the reeds l2 and 58 resides in thearcuate shape of the tip 22. It has been found that excessive materialat the outside edges of the tip 22 of the reeds 12 and 58 isundesirable. More specifically, being thin in section and being lesssupported relative to the center, the tip of a reed therefore possessesa poorer stiffness to mass ratio. Consequently, a reed embodying such atip tends to have a lower natural frequency resulting in exaggeratedcases in what is termed as buzz, i.e., undesired high partials orovertones. However, it has been found that by establishing a tip contourwhich shortens the reed length more at the side rails, the buzzdisappears. This in effect involves locally tapering the vibratingbeam-More specifically, since the normal vibrational mode for the reedis analogous to a diving, board, the natural frequency of the entire tipincreases with a coincident increase in range of musical notes which maybe played. Further, typically coincident with the buzz, a reed whichincludes a tip embodying excessive material is found to be stuffy andhard to play. Moreover, during release of the reed in tonguing" theformer is slow to take up the overtone quality by delaying vibration.However, it has been found that a tip contour wherein the side edges ofthe tip are clipped so that the end of the tip approaches a full curvedradius is effective to eliminate the undesired buzz as well as thestuffy and hard to play characteristics referred to above.

Namely, the effect of clipping the tip of the reed is to.

brighten the tone, eliminate buzz, eliminate stuffiness, and increasethe range of the instrument. A further result is to effect animprovement in the stiffness to mass ratio of the reed. It should benoted that the aforedescribed clipping of the tip of the reed may beutilized with or without the bow-tensioned configuration embodied in thereed 12 and the reed 58 to produce beneficial results in either case.The extent to which the edges of the tip are clipped has been depictedin FIG. 7 of the drawings in connection with the illustration of thereed 58. Thus, comparing the curvature of the tip 22 of the reed 58 tothat of the reed 12 shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, it is readilyapparent therefrom that the end of the tip 22 of the reed 58 approachesmuch more nearly a full curved radius than does the end of the tip 22 ofthe reed 12. Moreover, it is to be fully understood that although thetip 22 of the reed 58 has been depicted as having the aforereferencedconfiguration, the tip 22 of the reed 58 may also embody theconfiguration of the tip 22 of the reed 12 where due to the type ofmaterial selected for fabricating the reed, buzz is not a problem.Likewise, the tip 22 of the reed 12 may be provided with a configurationlike that of the tip 22 of the reed 58 where buzz and/or stuffiness isencountered. In summary, when a reed clipped in the manner of the tip 22of the reed 58 is fastened to the mouthpiece of a musical instrumentwith the tip of the reed covering the opening in the mouthpiece, the tipof the reed conforms in contour to the tip rail but the cor-. ner edgeof the tip of the reed just covers the opening in the mouthpiece.Consequently, the Bemouli forces from blowing the reed are essentiallyunaffected, while at the same time the mouthpiece opening is properlygated as a valve by the reed. Thus, it can be seen that i the necessaryreed function is retained by a reed and of the drawings, there will notbe set forth a description of the nature of the construction of thedouble reed 76 and the manner in which the geometry thereof is arrivedat. The principle of geometric stiffening to support the physicalconstants of any synthetic material substituted for natural cane fiberis valid for musical instruments which require double reeds, such as theoboe, bassoon, English horn, etc., as well as for single reedinstruments such as the saxophone, clarinet, etc. Typically, thegeometry of external configurations are more numerous in the case ofdouble reed systems and the final touching up or finishing program infabricating a double reed is more extensive than in the case of a singlereed. In this regard, the latter coacts with a hard mouthpiece in whichall the deflection to effect an opening or closure relative to theembouchure opening is permitted by the stiffness or compliance of asingle flat spring system. However, the general purpose of a double reedis identical to that of a single reed when considered from thestandpoint of responding to pressure differentials to time the bursts ofair injected into an acoustic resonant wave to sustain resonance andgenerate overtones which give character to the voice of the particularmusical instrument employed.

As best understood with reference to FIG. 9 of the drawings, the springback or compliance of the one reed 78 of a matched pair 78 80 thereofwhich together cooperate to comprise the double reed 76 differs indirection of stress somewhat in that the normally open reed of the pair78 80 forms an arched orifice with respect to the center line of thedouble reed 76 about which the latter is symmetrical. Moreover, the openreed, be it either reed 78 or reed 80, must close progressively inwardfrom the sides thereof as a rolling closure coacting with its twin reed,i.e., reed 80 or reed 78. The center of the open reed must not collapsebefore the sides thereof. This requirement dictates that the spine ofthe open reed must act in the same manner as the single reed which isemployed in a saxophone or a clarinet, and the sides as well as the tipthereof must be thin just as the tip is in a single reed form ofinstrument. The sides of the matched pair of reeds 78 and 80 in thedouble reed 76 remain closed and the overall compliance permits anoverall deformation of the fanlike double reed 76 which results in aprogressive closure of the tips of the coacting 78 and 80.

As noted above, the same principles of reed physics apply in the case ofthe double reed 76 as in the single reeds l2 and 58 such thatgeometrical compensation for the increased specific gravity of highperformance plastics may be made to make possible an increase in thestiffness to mass ratio of synthetic double reeds to equate theirperformance to the finest cane reeds with the added virtues ofsimplicity of fabrication and reduction in cost as well as an increasein life and consistency of character. It has also been found withreference to double reed 76 that forming arches in the surface facingthe direction of loading by Bernouli forces which cause closure willincrease stiffness and thereby permits a reduction in mass for the samestiffness as compared to a conventional reed embodying any conventionalform of geometry. Moreover, it should be recognized that care must betaken to minimize volumetric changes in the dimensions of the doublereed which would be reflected in flatness of pitch requiring shorteningthe length of the mouthpiece tube to calibrate the instrument with thewave length for resonance at the desired length. In this regard, somecompensation may be designed into the double reed by adjusting thelength of the latter.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings, it can be seentherefrom that the double reed 76 consists of a matched pair of singlereeds 78 and 80 which are joined together to produce a single structure.Inasmuch as each of the reeds 78 and 80 have the identical construction,for purposes of obtaining an understanding of the nature of theconstruction thereof, it is deemed sufficient to merely set forthhereinafter a description of one of the reeds 78 and 80. Thus, employingthe reed 78 by way of example in this regard, it can be seen withreference to FIGS. 9 and 10 that the reed 78 insofar as a portionthereof is concerned is generally similar in construction to a portionof the reed 12. More particularly, the forward portion of the reed 78,i.e, the portion thereof above the shoulders 82 as viewed with referenceto FIG. 10 of the drawings, corresponds in construction generally to theportion of the reed 12 which extends to the left of the shoulder 44 asviewed with reference to FIG. 3 of the drawings. Namely, the reed 78 isprovided with a vamp area 84 the upper surface of which is arched in themanner of the vamp 46 of the reed 12. Internally thereof, the vamp 84has a central web 86 formed therein. The web 86 begins at a pointoutwardly of the portion whereat the shoulder 82 is formed on the outersurface of the vamp 84 and terminates short of the tip 88 of the reed78. The web 86 is operable to form two cavities 90 and 92 in theundersurface of the vamp 84. Consequently, like the reed 12, the reed 78is provided with a plurality of arches, namely, an arch extendingbetween the two side edges of the vamp 84, an arch from one side of thevamp 84 to the central web 86, and another arch from the other side edgeof the vamp 84 to the central web 86. The remaining portion of the reed78 differs substantially from the root 38 of the reed 12. Moreparticularly, the portion 94 of the reed 78 is substantiallysemicircular in shape and in structure comprises half of a cylindricaltube. When the reed 78 is joined to the reed 80 in the manner which isbest understood with reference to FIG. 9 of the drawings, the portion 94of the reed 78 cooperates with the like portion 94 of the reed 80 toform a hollow circular passage 96 through which air is capable of beingpassed into the musical instrument when the double reed 76 is mountedthereto. Finally, it is comtemplated that the double reed 76 will beefabricated from the same material as that described hereinabove withparticularity from which it is preferred to fabricate the reed 12.

Although several embodiments of a synthetic reed constructed inaccordance with the present invention have been shown in the drawingsand described hereinabove, it is to be understood that still othermodifications in the construction thereof may nevertheless be madethereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the essenceof the invention. In this connection, some of the modifications whichcan be made in the synthetic reed alluded to hereinabove while otherswill become readily apparent to those skilled in the art when exposed tothe present description and illustration of the construction of thesingle reeds 12 and 58, and the double reed 76. For example, although ithas been found preferable to use the plastic resin described previouslyhereinabove as the material from which to fabricate the reeds 12, 58 and76, it is to be understood that the principles of construction which areembodied in the reeds 12, 58 and 76 in accordance with the presentinvention from which beneficial results are obtained are equallyapplicable to reeds fabricated from other materials such as natural canefiber, ivory, other plastics, etc. Also, depending upon the inherentstiffness of the material selected for fabricating reeds 12, 58 and 76,the ribbing, i.e., the web or webs which are provided on the innersurface, i.e., the underside of the corresponding vamp of the reed maybe eliminated or increased as deemed necessary in order to provide thereed with the desired stiffness to mass ratio. In addition, thetechnique of clipping the corners of the tip of the reed to eliminatebuzz and stuffiness may be utilized to produce beneficial resultsirrespective of whether the reed embodies the bowtensioned constructionillustrated in the drawings as being possessed by the reeds 1'2, 58 and76. More specifically, improvements in the manner in which the reedfunctions are obtainable from a reed embodying the bow-tensionedconstruction wherein the vamp is arched in a saggital plane and thereexists a streamlined relieving of the under-surface thereof with the tipof the reed being configured in the conventional manner from a reedwherein the corners of the tip are clipped but the remainder of the reedis provided with the conventional reed construction as well as from areed which embodies both the bowtensioned construction and a tip havingclipped corners. Finally, it is to be understood that the concept ofbowtensioned construction as applied to reeds used in musicalinstruments, in accordance with the present invention, is applicable toall reeds for all reed-blown musical instruments.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides a novel andimproved synthetic reed for saxophones, clarinets and other woodwindinstruments which is capable of duplicating the sound characteristics ofa natural cane reed while extending the useful life thereof. Thesynthetic reed for Saxophones, clarinets and other woodwind instrumentsof the present invention can be manufactured in a simple manner in largequantities with a high degree of dimensional reproducibility at lowcost. Moreover, in accord with the present invention a synthetic reedfor Saxophones, clarinets and other woodwind instruments has beenprovided which during the finishing stage of fabrication affords themusician the latitude of enhancing any particular desired range anddepth of tonality within the physical limits of plastic modulus,material density and distribution of tension and compression elements.Furthermore, a synthetic reed for Saxophones, clarinets and otherwoodwind instruments hasbeen provided in accordance with the presentinvention which will not readily oscillate in a squeal mode. Also inaccord with the present invention a synthetic reed for Saxophones,clarinets and other woodwind instruments has been provided which iscontoured to coact with the mouthpiece of the musical instrument as amore efficient air foil so as to maximize the force acting upon the reedto displace it by maximizing the velocity pressure drop for a givenpressure differential across the lip of the mouthpiece and tip face ofthe reed. In addition, the synthetic reed for Saxophones, clarinets andother woodwind instruments of the present invention enjoys an increasedcapacity for the storage of potential energy, in the manner of a fullworking recurved archers bow for a given displacement which results ingreater projection without loss of musical quality. Finally, in accordwith the present invention there has been provided a synthetic reed forSaxophones, clarinets and other woodwind instruments which embodies aconstruction the principles of which may be applied to a natural reed toimprove the latters range and quality of sound during its rather brieflife, and which in addition may also be applied to all reds for allreed-blown musical instruments.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A reed for use in a reed blown musical instrument comprising arelatively thin, elongated member formed of synthetic material having atransversely extending shoulder formed intermediate the ends thereofalong the top surface thereof, said member including a heel portionformed at one end thereof extending from said shoulder to one of thefree ends of said member and a vamp section formed at the other endthereof extending from said shoulder to the other one of the free endsof said member, said heel portion including a substantially fiat, planarsurface cooperable with the mouthpiece of the musical instrument formounting the reed thereto, said vamp section including a lower surfaceoperable as the face of the reed and a curved upper surface cooperablewith said lower surface to provide said vamp section with an archedshape in cross section taken substantially perpendicular to the majoraxis of said vamp section, said upper surface of said vamp section beingtapered so as to provide said vamp section with a decreasing thicknessand a corresponding diminishing mass extending from said shoulder to apoint spaced therefrom whereat said lower surface and said upper surfaceblend together to define the tip of said vamp section, said lowersurface of said vamp section having a pair of spaced relieved portionsformed therein in substantially parallel relation to each other andextending longitudinally substantially the entire length of said lowersurface of said vamp section from substantially the point therealongwhereat said vamp section is joined to said heel portion to said tip ofsaid vamp section wherein said pair of relieved portions blend into saidlower surface of said vamp section, each of said pair of relievedportions embodying the configuration of an arch, said lower surface ofsaid vamp section further including a central web formed between saidpair of relieved portions and extending substantially the entire lengththereof and a pair of side rails formed along the edges of the longsides of said lower surface of said vamp section for substantially theentire length thereof, said central web and said pair of side rails eachextending from substantially the point whereat said vamp section isjoined to said heel portion to said tip of said vamp section, saidcentral web and said pair of side rails each embodying a uniformlydecreasing taper so as to blend into said lower surface of said vampsection at said tip thereof, said pair of relieved portions, saidcentral web and said pair of side rails all cooperating mutuallytogether to provide the reed with an area moment of inertia thatdecreases uniformly from said shoulder of said member to said tip ofsaid vamp section and with the predominant distribution of inertial massof the reed which is coincident with the predominant axial stiffnessthereof being located centrally of the longitudinal axis of said vampsection.

2. The reed as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tip of said vampsection has the corner edges thereof clippped to eliminate buzz andstuffiness when the musical instrument is played.

3. The reed as set forth in claim 1 wherein said memher is formed ofsynthetic material wherein the fibers thereof are polarized.

4. A reed for use in a reed blown musical instrument comprising arelatively thin, elongated member having a transversely extendingshoulder formed intermediate the ends thereof, said member including aheel portion formed at one end thereof extending from said shoulder toone of the free ends of said member and a vamp section formed at theother end thereof extending from said shoulder to the other one of thefree ends of said member, said heel portion embodying a configurationenabling said heel portion to cooperate with a portion of the musicalinstrument for mounting the reed thereto, said vamp section includingone surface operable as the face of the reed, said one surface having afirst pair of spaced, longitudinally extending relieved portions formedtherein, each of said first pair of relieved portions embodying theconfiguration of an arch, said one surface also including a central webformed between said first pair of relieved portions and extendingsubstantially the entire length thereof and a pair of side rails formedalong the edges of the long sides of said one surface for substantiallythe entire length thereof, said central web and said pair of side railseach extending substantially from the point whereat said vamp section isjoined to said heel portion towards the tip of said vamp section andembodying a uniformly decreasing taper so as to blend into said onesurface adjacent said tip of said vamp section, said one surface of saidvamp section further including a second pair of spaced, longitudinallyextending relieved portions formed therein in parallel spaced relationto said first pair of relieved portions, a second web formed between oneof said first pair of relieved portions and one of said second pair ofrelieved portions and extending substantially the entire length thereofand a third web formed between the other of said first pair of relievedportions and the other of said second pair of relieved portions andextending substantially the entire length thereof, said second web andsaid third web formed in said one surface of said vamp section eachembodying a uniformly decreasing taper from the end thereof most closelylocated to the point whereat said vamp section is joined to said heelportion to the other end thereof so as to blend into said one surfaceadjacent said tip to said vamp section, said first and second pairs ofrelieved portions, said central web, said first and second webs and saidpair of side rails all cooperating mutually together to provide the reedwith a diminishing mass measured from said shoulder to said tip of saidvamp section so as to provide the reed with an area moment of inertiathat decreases uniformly from said shoulder of said member to said tipof said vamp section and with the predominant distribution of inertialmass of the reed which is coincident with the predominant axialstiffness thereof being located centrally of the longitudinal axis ofsaid vamp section.

5. A reed for use in a reed blown musical instrument comprising anelongated member including a heel portion formed at one end thereof anda vamp section formed at the other end thereof, said heel portion andsaid vamp section being joined together intermediate the ends of saidmember, said heel portion consisting of a first pair of segmentsextending the length of said heel portion and joined together along theedges of the long sides thereof, each of said first pair of segments ofsaid heel portion having a semicircular recess formed therein extendingthe length thereof, said semicircular recess formed in one of said firstpair of segments of said heel portion cooperating with said semicircularrecess formed in the other of said first pair of segments of said heelportion to form a circular through opening in said heel portion operablefor purposes of mounting the reed to a portion of the musicalinstrument, said vamp section consisting of a second pair of segmentseach including a curved outer surface of decreasing taper and an innersurface blending together at one end thereof to define the tip of saidvamp section, each of said second pair of segments having formed in saidinner surface thereof a pair of relieved portions extendingsubstantially the entire length thereof and a pair of side rails formedalong the edges of the long sides of each of said second pair ofsegments, said pair of side rails of one of said pair of segments beingjoined along the outer edges thereof to said pair of side rails of theother of said second pair of segments so as to form a through openingbetween said second pair of segments having one end thereofcommunicating with said circular through opening formed in said heelportion, said second pair of segments of said vamp section each furtherincluding a central web formed in said inner surface thereof betweensaid pair of relieved portions therein so as to extend substantiallytheentire length thereof, said pair of side rails and said central webformed in said inner surface of each of said second pair of segmentsembodying a uniformly decreasing taper so as to blend into said innersurface adjacent said tip of said vamp section.

1. A reed for use in a reed blown musical instrument comprising arelatively thin, elongated member formed of synthetic material having atransversely extending shoulder formed intermediate the ends thereofalong the top surface thereof, said member including a heel portionformed at one end thereof extending from said shoulder to one of thefree ends of said member and a vamp section formed at the other endthereof extending from said shoulder to the other one of the free endsof said member, said heel portion including a substantially flat, planarsurface cooperable with the mouthpiece of the musical instrument formounting the reed thereto, said vamp section including a lower surfaceoperable as the face of the reed and a curved upper surface coOperablewith said lower surface to provide said vamp section with an archedshape in cross section taken substantially perpendicular to the majoraxis of said vamp section, said upper surface of said vamp section beingtapered so as to provide said vamp section with a decreasing thicknessand a corresponding diminishing mass extending from said shoulder to apoint spaced therefrom whereat said lower surface and said upper surfaceblend together to define the tip of said vamp section, said lowersurface of said vamp section having a pair of spaced relieved portionsformed therein in substantially parallel relation to each other andextending longitudinally substantially the entire length of said lowersurface of said vamp section from substantially the point therealongwhereat said vamp section is joined to said heel portion to said tip ofsaid vamp section wherein said pair of relieved portions blend into saidlower surface of said vamp section, each of said pair of relievedportions embodying the configuration of an arch, said lower surface ofsaid vamp section further including a central web formed between saidpair of relieved portions and extending substantially the entire lengththereof and a pair of side rails formed along the edges of the longsides of said lower surface of said vamp section for substantially theentire length thereof, said central web and said pair of side rails eachextending from substantially the point whereat said vamp section isjoined to said heel portion to said tip of said vamp section, saidcentral web and said pair of side rails each embodying a uniformlydecreasing taper so as to blend into said lower surface of said vampsection at said tip thereof, said pair of relieved portions, saidcentral web and said pair of side rails all cooperating mutuallytogether to provide the reed with an area moment of inertia thatdecreases uniformly from said shoulder of said member to said tip ofsaid vamp section and with the predominant distribution of inertial massof the reed which is coincident with the predominant axial stiffnessthereof being located centrally of the longitudinal axis of said vampsection.
 2. The reed as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tip of saidvamp section has the corner edges thereof clippped to eliminate buzz andstuffiness when the musical instrument is played.
 3. The reed as setforth in claim 1 wherein said member is formed of synthetic materialwherein the fibers thereof are polarized.
 4. A reed for use in a reedblown musical instrument comprising a relatively thin, elongated memberhaving a transversely extending shoulder formed intermediate the endsthereof, said member including a heel portion formed at one end thereofextending from said shoulder to one of the free ends of said member anda vamp section formed at the other end thereof extending from saidshoulder to the other one of the free ends of said member, said heelportion embodying a configuration enabling said heel portion tocooperate with a portion of the musical instrument for mounting the reedthereto, said vamp section including one surface operable as the face ofthe reed, said one surface having a first pair of spaced, longitudinallyextending relieved portions formed therein, each of said first pair ofrelieved portions embodying the configuration of an arch, said onesurface also including a central web formed between said first pair ofrelieved portions and extending substantially the entire length thereofand a pair of side rails formed along the edges of the long sides ofsaid one surface for substantially the entire length thereof, saidcentral web and said pair of side rails each extending substantiallyfrom the point whereat said vamp section is joined to said heel portiontowards the tip of said vamp section and embodying a uniformlydecreasing taper so as to blend into said one surface adjacent said tipof said vamp section, said one surface of said vamp section furtherincluding a second pair of spaced, longitudinally extending relievEdportions formed therein in parallel spaced relation to said first pairof relieved portions, a second web formed between one of said first pairof relieved portions and one of said second pair of relieved portionsand extending substantially the entire length thereof and a third webformed between the other of said first pair of relieved portions and theother of said second pair of relieved portions and extendingsubstantially the entire length thereof, said second web and said thirdweb formed in said one surface of said vamp section each embodying auniformly decreasing taper from the end thereof most closely located tothe point whereat said vamp section is joined to said heel portion tothe other end thereof so as to blend into said one surface adjacent saidtip to said vamp section, said first and second pairs of relievedportions, said central web, said first and second webs and said pair ofside rails all cooperating mutually together to provide the reed with adiminishing mass measured from said shoulder to said tip of said vampsection so as to provide the reed with an area moment of inertia thatdecreases uniformly from said shoulder of said member to said tip ofsaid vamp section and with the predominant distribution of inertial massof the reed which is coincident with the predominant axial stiffnessthereof being located centrally of the longitudinal axis of said vampsection.
 5. A reed for use in a reed blown musical instrument comprisingan elongated member including a heel portion formed at one end thereofand a vamp section formed at the other end thereof, said heel portionand said vamp section being joined together intermediate the ends ofsaid member, said heel portion consisting of a first pair of segmentsextending the length of said heel portion and joined together along theedges of the long sides thereof, each of said first pair of segments ofsaid heel portion having a semicircular recess formed therein extendingthe length thereof, said semicircular recess formed in one of said firstpair of segments of said heel portion cooperating with said semicircularrecess formed in the other of said first pair of segments of said heelportion to form a circular through opening in said heel portion operablefor purposes of mounting the reed to a portion of the musicalinstrument, said vamp section consisting of a second pair of segmentseach including a curved outer surface of decreasing taper and an innersurface blending together at one end thereof to define the tip of saidvamp section, each of said second pair of segments having formed in saidinner surface thereof a pair of relieved portions extendingsubstantially the entire length thereof and a pair of side rails formedalong the edges of the long sides of each of said second pair ofsegments, said pair of side rails of one of said pair of segments beingjoined along the outer edges thereof to said pair of side rails of theother of said second pair of segments so as to form a through openingbetween said second pair of segments having one end thereofcommunicating with said circular through opening formed in said heelportion, said second pair of segments of said vamp section each furtherincluding a central web formed in said inner surface thereof betweensaid pair of relieved portions therein so as to extend substantially theentire length thereof, said pair of side rails and said central webformed in said inner surface of each of said second pair of segmentsembodying a uniformly decreasing taper so as to blend into said innersurface adjacent said tip of said vamp section.